Spring has arrived bringing with it preparations for the much awaited Annual Scouts and Guides Parade. This year’s parade is going to be held on Sunday 17th April and will be led by the South District, according to the following programme:

08:30 Arrival of the South District Groups attending mass. Groups will be dropped off next to St Publius parish church in Floriana. Coaches transporting the groups will then park along Crucifix Hill.

08:45 Groups are to be seated inside the church. Invited MPs, VIPs, National Scout Council, Malta Girl Guides Council and National Board members, the Trefoil Guild and the Scout Fellowship will be ushered to their reserved seats.

09:00 Thanksgiving mass will be celebrated by H.E. Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona, together with the Floriana parish priest and chaplains of both associations.

10:00 Arrival of all other Scout and Guide groups at the Floriana Granaries.

10:15 Triq Sarria will be closed for all vehicular traffic including buses for all Scout and Guide groups.

10:30 Scouts and Guides to form up the parade

11:00 Marching off to take place as follows: South, Central, Gozo and North Districts. As in previous years, the groups will march down Republic Street, pass the palace through St George’s Square and turn right into Archbishop Street, turning right once more to march up Merchants Street up to Castille Place.

As patron of both national associations, Her Excellency, President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca will be taking the salute of passing groups in front of the Presidential Palace in St George’s Square. All groups will be marching in full uniform behind the colours of the Maltese, Scouting and Guiding flags.

The Scout and Guide associations would like to take the opportunity to thank all those involved in assisting in the organisation of this annual event. A special word of thanks goes to the Malta Police Force, whose officers go beyond the call of duty to the associations’ needs and provide logistical support free of charge, the St John Ambulance brigade for standby first aid assistance, the Floriana and Valletta local councils for the relevant permits and Transport Malta for rerouting vehicular traffic.

The Scout Association of Malta and The Malta Girl Guides will be teaming up again to organise this year’s Scouts and Guides Parade on Sunday 26th April. All groups will be marching in full uniform behind the colours of the Maltese, Scouting and Guiding flags.

Thanksgiving mass will be celebrated at St Publius parish church by Archbishop Charles Scicluna, together with the Floriana Parish Priest and National Chaplains of both Associations at 9am. The National Scout Council, the Girl Guides Council, The Trefoil Guild and the Scout Fellowship will also participate.